Mirza Ahmad

Sohrab
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/SohrabEx.htm

Most of the books of Ruth White and Mirza Ahmad Sohrab are available on this website.
Scholarship worthy of the name cannot be done without confronting the history to which
Ruth White and Mirza Ahmad Sohrab testify. Ecerpts and bibliography below.

Mirza Ahmad Sohrab!s Broken Silence: The Story of Today's Struggle for Religious
Freedom. "ew #ork$ %niversal &ublishing' ()*+. Entire book$
http$,,www.fglaysher.com,bahaicensorship,archives,Sohrab-rokenSilence.pdf
Ecerpts regarding the ()*( "ew #ork Supreme .ourt .ase before /udge 0alente$
http$,,www.fglaysher.com,bahaicensorship,archives,-rokenSilence'.ourt.ase.pdf
Ahmad Sohrab' who was Abdul1-aha!s secretary for eight years' mistakenly chose to
support an organizational structure under a 2guardian'2 though he was well aware that' as
he subtly acknowledged' 2Abdul -aha had never in speech or writing given the slightest
indication that there would be a successor to himself. 3n the contrary' a number of
addresses delivered by him on various occasions had made the opposite impression.2 The
Will and Testament of Abdul-Baha 45(6.
Many of Sohrab!s comments and books should be read in the light of his attempting to
make amends with' or influence' Shoghi Effendi' who 2ecommunicated2 him' as Shoghi
Effendi had done with his on entire family. Ruth White and 7r. .. Ainsworth Mitchell
went much deeper into what had gone wrong after Abdul1-aha!s death' but Sohrab
throws light upon various -ahai problems of the time' such as freedom of religious
conscience' of which many such problems continue today for other -ahai denominations
based upon the fraudulent will and testament of ()+(.
8iven subse9uent -ahai history' it is clear Sohrab also failed to understand the wisdom
and very profound change in religious form and conduct that Abdul1-aha taught when he
repeatedly stated the -ahai Movement could not be organized. Abdul1-aha!s :eaching
runs entirely contrary to what people usually think of as 2religion'2 and is still today a
profoundly challenging parado for many seekers and -ahais.
Scholarship worthy of the name cannot be done without confronting the -ahai history to
which Ruth White' /ulie .hanler' and Mirza Ahmad Sohrab testify.
&lease note that in its use of the tactic of what Sohrab called 2slanderous vilification'2 the
headnote links on ;1net -aha!i on Broken Silence and The Will and Testament of Abdul-
Baha violate the "E;' MS%' and ;1"et!s own democratic principles regarding scholarly
and academic debate and discussion. :he associated links' for these two works' and
attempts to discredit Sohrab with bogus legal opinions' further demonstrate fanatical
-aha!i abuse and undermining of the democratic principles that support ;1"et' yet
another indication of the etent to which -aha!is are willing to go to maintain their
stranglehold and bias people against opinions they oppose. <n these books' Sohrab
presents a view of -ahai life in America during the early +=th .entury very different
from what the deceptive headnotes suggest. 4White and Sohrab!s books were entirely
deleted from ;1"et -ahai on apparently /une )' +==>' only restored after a number of
complaints from at least two different people.6 http$,,www.h1
net.org,?bahai,diglib,books,&1:,S,sohrab,-roken.htm


Selective -ibliography' Sohrab$
Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. < ;eard ;im Say. Words of Abdul -aha as Recorded by his
Secretary.
"ew #ork$ :he "ew ;istory @oundation' ()A>.
http$,,www.fglaysher.com,bahaicensorship,archives,Sohrab<;;S.pdf
Ahmad Sohrab!s -roken Silence$ :he Story of :oday!s Struggle for Religious @reedom.
"ew #ork$ %niversal &ublishing' ()*+.
http$,,www.fglaysher.com,bahaicensorship,archives,Sohrab-rokenSilence.pdf
Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. Abdul -aha!s 8randson$ Story of a :wentieth .entury
Ecommunication "ew #ork$ %niversal &ublishing for :he "ew ;istory @oundation'
()*A. http$,,www.fglaysher.com,bahaicensorship,A-8.htm
http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/diglib/books/P-T/S/sohrab/ABG.htm
Ecerpts at bottom$ Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. :he Will and :estament of Abdul -aha' An
Analysis.
"ew #ork$ %niversal &ublishing' ()**.
http$,,www.fglaysher.com,bahaicensorship,archives,SohrabW:A-.pdf
Sohrab' Mirza Ahmad. :he Story of the 7ivine &lan. :aking &lace during' and
immediately following World War <. "ew #ork$ :he "ew ;istory @oundation' ()*>.
7igitally republished' East Bansing' Mi.$ ;1-ahai' +==*.
http$,,www.h1net.org,?bahai,diglib,books,&1:,S,sohrab,S7&.htm
Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. My -ahai &ilgrimage. Autobiography from .hildhood to Middle
Age.
"ew #ork$ "ew ;istory @oundation' ()C).
http$,,www.fglaysher.com,bahaicensorship,archives,SohrabM-&.pdf
Mirza Ahmad Sohrab 4(D)A 1 ()CD6 -iography by Will /ohnson' &rofessional
8enealogist
http$,,www.countyhistorian.com,cecilweb,inde.php,AhmadESohrab

EXCERPTS: Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. Broken Silence. The Story of
Today's Struggle for Religious Freedom. New York: Universal
Pblishin!" #$%&.
Pages 83, 85, 131, and 206 are missing from the scanned H-Net
version of Broken Silence:
"The love of religios li!ert" is a stronger sentiment than an
attachment to civil or #olitical freedom$ That freedom %hich the
conscience demands and %hich men feel !ond !" their ho#es of
salvation to contend for, can hardl" fail to !e attained$ &onscience in
the case of religion, and the %orshi# of 'eit", #re#ares the mind to
act and sffer !e"ond almost all other cases$$$$ Histor" instrcts s
that this love of religios li!ert", a com#ond sentiment in the !reast
of men, made # of the dearest sense of right and the highest
conviction of dt", is a!le to loo( the sternest des#otism in the face"
)12*$ --'aniel +e!ster
Praise !e to ,od- .o are living #on the great continent of the +est
en/o"ing #erfect li!ert", secrit" and #eace of this /st
government $ $ $ for in this hman %orld there is no greater !lessing
than li!ert"$ .o do not (no%$ 0 %ho for fort" "ears have !een a
#risoner, do (no%$ 0 do (no% the vale and !lessing of li!ert"$ 1or "o
have !een and are no% living in freedom and "o have no fear of
an"!od"$ 0s there a greater !lessing than this2 1reedom- 3i!ert"-
4ecrit"- These are the great !esto%als of ,od$ Therefore #raise "e
,od- --5!dl-6aha, The Promlgation of 7niversal Peace, 8ol$ 0, #age
9:$ 5ddress !efore the ;etro#olitan 5frican ;ethodist &hrch,
+ashington, '$&$ 5#ril 23, 1:12$
"Here, 0 %ish to affirm m" conviction that the +ill of 5!dl 6aha is
valid and that his a##ointment of 4hoghi <ffendi as the ,ardian of the
6ahai &ase is nchallengea!le$ Nevertheless, 0 ta(e e=ce#tion to
certain #olicies and methods initiated !" 4hoghi <ffendi and the 6ahai
5dministration esta!lished nder his leadershi#" )26*$
"The teachings of 6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha are li!eral to the nth
degree, and !road !e"ond the ot#osts of hman thoght$ 0t %as the
intention of the 1onders to esta!lish an norgani?ed movement, so
all-inclsive and free as to !e immne to the natral #roclivities of
men to restrict and limit$ The fact that restriction and limitation have
alread" set in and are fast gaining grond, at this date, onl" t%ent"
"ears after the removal from or midst of 5!dl 6aha, is a matter of
#rofond concern to all those %ho, la!els a#art, !elieve in #romoting
7niversal @eligion" )26-2A*$
"The 6ahai &ase, as fonded !" 6aha>>llah nearl" a centr" ago and
as inter#reted !" his son 5!dl 6aha, %as and still is a 7N08<@453
@<30,0BN$ 0ts #rinci#les %ere intended to safegard the conscience of
man from interference !" an" hierarchical organi?ationC to s#iritali?e
societ" and to sociali?e religionC to nif" the fndamental ideals of the
+orld 1aithsC to !esto% #on ever" child of ,od the #recios gift of
li!ert" and to harmoni?e the conflicting interests of nations, races and
#eo#les of the earth %ith the #o%er of s#irit$ Ho%ever, the #resent da"
6ahai 5dministration nder the title of the National 4#irital 5ssem!l"
of the 6ahais of the 7nited 4tates and &anada has, throgh its dogmas
and creeds, frstrated the aims of the 1onders of the 6ahai 1aith$"
"The athenticit" of this docment is !e"ond the shado% of do!t"
)9A*$
5n Bld 5ccsation
"Practicall", from the de#artre of the ;aster from this life ntil toda",
it has !een charged against me !" the 6ahai Brgani?ation and !" the
mem!ers of the &ommnit" that 0 den" the +ill of 5!dl 6aha and
refse to acce#t 4hoghi <ffendi as ,ardian$ Therefore, 0 ta(e this
o##ortnit" to ma(e a #lain and neDivocal statementE Never in
thoght, %ord or %riting have 0 Destioned the athenticit" of the +ill,
nor denied the validit" of the a##ointment of 4hoghi <ffendi$ 3et s
no% ho#e that, once and for all time, this fact has !een ma(e clear
and manifest" )9:*$
"5fter the ascension of 5!dl 6aha in 1:21, certain reactionar" and
dogmatic forces !egan to ma(e their a##earance in the &ase$ 5lmost
nnoticea!le at first, the", little !" little, gained grond ntil at
#resent, this movement, %hich %as the most niversal and li!eral of
all movements, #ast and #resent, has !een redced to a sect, %hile its
s#irit is all !t e=tingished$ The #rinci#les of 6aha>>llah are forgotten
and in their stead %e see nothing !t a mass of rles and reglations
that d#licate, to sa" the least, the ecclesiastical #ara#hernalia of
#revios organi?ed religions" )51*$
"0f, in the corse of m" %riting, 0 have occasionall" disagreed %ith the
#olicies of 4hoghi <ffendi, it is not !ecase 0, in the least, contest the
genineness of the +ill of 5!dl 6aha or Destion the a##ointment of
4hoghi <ffendi to the ,ardianshi#, !t !ecase, as a 6ahai, 0
maintain m" freedom of conscience and hold to the in/nction of
6aha>>llahE F0nde#endent investigation of Trth$F &iti?ens of the
7nited 4tates feel themselves at li!ert" to freel" discss, to agree or
disagree %ith the #olicies of the President$ This does not im#l" that
the" Destion his right to occ#" the +hite Hose, nor that the" are
#lanning to overthro% the government$ Bn the contrar", it is an
e=#ression of their love for this contr" and of their desire to
contri!te to%ard its safet" and !etterment" )52-53*$
"0 %ill sho% from the %ritings of 6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha that the
&ase that the" envisaged and for %hich the" sffered is Dite
different and totall" at variance %ith the one that is !eing taght
toda"$ Bne is divine revelation, the other is hman athorit"C one is
niversal and all-inclsive, the other is restricted and se#arativeC one
is dignit" and freedom of conscience, the other is s!servienc" and
!lind lo"alt"C one is %ings otstretched, the other is feet enchained"
)53*$
"0 do not claim to !e a leader$ 0 do not see( follo%ers$ 0 have no %ish
that m" name shold !e even remem!ered$ 0 am sim#l" a voice in the
%ilderness$ 3astl", farthest of all from m" thoghts is the idea of !eing
destrctive, for m" aim is to re-discover the original s#irital teachings
of 6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha, %hich %ere and are for the
esta!lishment of a divine civili?ation" )59*$
"The 3ocal 5ssem!l" of this cit" %ished to s#ervise or activities$ 0,
on the other hand, o%ing to long e=#erience %ith the 5ssem!lies, %as
convinced that sch s#ervision im#lied a com#lete domination and
%old lead to the total destrction of the %or( itself$ +e loo(ed #on
The Ne% Histor" 4ociet" as an inde#endent effort to teach the
#rinci#les of the &ase, and %e needed freedom in so doing$
5fter%ards, %hen the initial interest had !een created, %e %ere read"
to gide or ne% fond friends to the &enter, to arrange classes nder
the direction of its o%n 6ahai teachers and to strive in ever" %a"
to%ard the co-o#eration of the t%o gro#s" )A5*$
"0t %as re#eatedl" reDired of me that 0 shold a##ear !efore the
3ocal 5ssem!l" of Ne% .or( and the National 4#irital 5ssem!l", !t 0
loo(ed on these !odies as @eligios Tri!nals $ $ $ and !elieved that 0
%old !e tra##ed into ma(ing admissions, regarding m" o#inion of the
organi?ation, %hich %old !e sed against me$ &onseDentl", %hile 0
%as at all times %illing to discss an" and all matters %ith individal
mem!ers of the 5ssem!lies, 0 consistentl" refsed to a##ear !efore
their official gro#s )AA*$
"No%, ;rs$ &hanler (ne% that Fco-o#erationF meant s#ervision of or
#rograms and of ever"thing that %as said on or #latform$ 0t im#lied
endless discssions and certain interr#tions of the %or($ +e felt that
%e cold not ris($$$ )82*$ G83 missingH
@ecriting 4tation
"6" this time, large nm!ers of the mem!ers of the 6ahai organi?ation
had actall" /ointed The Ne% Histor" 4ociet"$ This mem!ershi# %ith s
in no %ise affected their lo"alt" to the &enter, for all of s loo(ed on
the ne% movement as a sort of recriting station, and %e often termed
it as sch" ):3*$
8oting season
"The Ne% Histor" 4ociet", from time to time, o#ening its flood-gages
and allo%ing a stream of immatre 6ahais to filter into the #recincts of
the 5ssem!l"$ 4o far so goodC !t ho% a!ot the voting season2
+old it not !e li(el" that these fresh, ntrammeled minds %old #ic(
ot some Fne%F officers to re#resent them, and that %ithin a fe%
"ears a large #art of the administrative #ersonnel %old !e changed2
This s##osition !rings # a serios #oint, a##l"ing to !oth National
and 3ocal 5ssem!lies, the former having !een fnctioning since time
ot of mind %ith #racticall" no change of officers" ):5*$
"0 have to than( @hi <ffendi for so concisel" smming # m"
characteristics in the a!ove statement$ 0 cold not have done it !etter
m"self$ 5n almost religios !elief in freedom for all men, and a disli(e
for the red ta#e that a##lies to organi?ations )es#eciall" s##osedl"
s#irital ones* are strongl" develo#ed in m" consciosness$ Bn this
!asis, 0 have al%a"s fnctioned and al%a"s %ill" )119*$
"1or orselves, %e shall contine along the #ath that %e have chosen
so deli!eratel"C %e shall teach freedom of conscience, res#ect for the
convictions of others and coo#eration !et%een men and %omen of all
s"stems of thoght tending to%ard a tre comradeshi# of hman
!eings, !orn and n!orn$ Then, shall %e teach religios li!ert"2 To as(
the Destion is to ans%er it$ The as#iration to%ard religios li!ert" has
al%a"s e=isted in the consciosness of man(ind$ 0t lives in Hind
hearts, in Ie%ish hearts, in &hristian hearts, in 0slamic hearts and,
after its long lea# from the heart of FThe ;ost ,reat Prisoner in 5ccaF,
it lives in the hearts of #eo#le ever"%here$ This is a cardinal #rinci#le
of the Ne% +orld Brder" )120*$
"3et me state that dring the last eleven "ears this !od" of men and
%omen have set themselves to o##ose the %or( of The Ne% Histor"
4ociet", to attri!te to its fonders and mem!ers all sorts of n%orth"
motivesC to #!lish in F6ahai Ne%sF articles of a most crde character
and to contenance stories and rmors that have no fondation in fact
and no relation to realit"$ 0n ta(ing this attitde and in s"stematicall"
follo%ing a corse of enmit" and #ersection, the mem!ers of the
National 4#irital 5ssem!l" of the 6ahais of the 7nited 4tates and
&anada have !een free and ntrammeledC one ma" assert that the"
have sed )or in m" o#inion have a!sed* their constittional right of
free #ress, free s#eech and free assem!l" )129-125*$
"0n 1:3:, The Ne% Histor" 4ociet" e=hi!ited its %or(s and literatre in
GtheH 4cience and <dcation 6ilding at the Ne% .or( +orld>s 1air, and
dring these months an idea came to the mind of ;rs$ 1rederic( 5llien,
one of the first 6ahais in this contr", %ho had !een called F6erthalinF
!" 5!dl 6aha and %ho has sed this name ever since$ The idea %as
that it %old !e a vala!le service to the &ase if, after the closing of
the 1air, or e=hi!it cold !e trans#orted to the cit"$ 5fter some
consltation, it %as decided to ta(e this ste# as a #rel" tem#orar"
activit", and on Novem!er Ath, 1:3:, F6ahai 6oo(sho#F %as o#ened
at 828 3e=ington 5vene, a lease having !een signed for the dration
of si= months$ 0 admit that %e %ere fll" conscios that, in all
#ro!a!ilit", the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" of the 6ahais of the 7nited
4tates and &anada %old resent this frther heralding of the 6ahai
name and teachings$ Ho%ever, %e %ere #re#ared, as in the #ast, to
meet o##osition in silence )126*$
"6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha lived in #rison, sffered and gave their
teachings FfreeF for the religios nification of man(ind in order that,
in 1:28, these s#irital heavenl" teachings !e mono#oli?ed, and sold
nder trade-mar( to an nss#ecting #!lic as so mch FgoodsF,
similar to F6le 4noco, ,$ +ashington coffee, T%ent" ;le Team
6ora=oF or Fthe ne%, !lended %ith Havana, +hilte B%l &igarF )it>s
milder*-" )132*$
"The 6ahai organi?ation is not a religion, nor a s#irital renaissance,
nor the s#irit of the age, !t is a fll-fledged cor#oration %hich, %hile
it engages itself in mar(eting the #rinci#les of 6aha>>llah for the
esta!lishment of 7niversal Peace, throgh its varios !ranches in the
7nited 4tates, &anada and in other #arts of the %orld, has #rotected
these goods !" ta(ing ot a trade-mar( on the ver" name %hich more
than t%ent" thosand Persian men and %omen claimed at the #rice of
their lives" )133*$
"0 %ill #oint ot one #ecliar as#ect of F6ahai Ne%sF$ <ver" co#", in
recent times G1:90sH, carries on its front #age the inscri#tionE F1or
6ahais Bnl"$F +h" for 6ahais onl", if the 6ahai &ase is intended for
the %hole %orld2 +h" for 6ahais onl", if there is nothing to hide2 +h"
for 6ahais onl", if this #eriodical is a credit to those %ho #re#are it2
5!dl 6aha on man" occasions said that in the 6ahai &ase there is no
secret doctrine, and that there shold !e no secret societ" nor secret
meetings$ He never thoght of s#ecif"ing the #oint that there shold
!e no secret #!licationE F1or men onl", 1or mem!ers of the Jlan onl",
1or 6ahais Bnl"F )136*$
"The insidios adversaries are those %ho hold office in the National
4#irital 5ssem!l" of the 6ahais of the 7nited 4tates and &anada$
The" are the ones %ho, throgh their legalistic ver!iage, have sto##ed
the circlation of the !lood of life throgh the arteries of man(indC
the" are the ones %ho have !anished love from their midst and
enthroned the 8eiled Hatred %hich is more dreadfl than the nveiled
oneC the" are the ones %ho have s#read the #all of s!tle fear and
ss#icion over the 6ahai &ommnit", e=iling confidence and self-
res#ectC the" are the ones %ho, throgh #olitical mani#lations !efore
and dring annal 6ahai &onventions, are re-elected to the same
offices "ear after "ear--ths, (ee#ing a stranglehold on the activities of
the &ase and directing those activities according to their o%n good-
#leasre" )13A*$
"The %riter of the article in F6ahai Ne%s reaches the height of his
slanderos vili'i(a)ion %hen he li(ens ;r$ and ;rs$ &hanler and their
6ahai friends Fto those enemies that #receded themE 4!hi-<?el,
;ohamet 5li, Jheirella and their li(e" )138*$
"The 6ahai ;ovement is not an organi?ation$ .o cannot organi?e the
6ahai ;ovement$ The 6ahai ;ovement is the s#irit of the age$ 0t is the
essence of all the highest ideals of this centr"$ The 6ahai &ase is an
inclsive movement$ The teachings of all religions and societies are
fond here$ &hristians, Ie%s, 6ddhists, ;ohammadans, Koroastrians,
Theoso#hists, 1reemasons, 4#iritalists, etc$, find their highest aims in
this &ase, 4ocialists and #hiloso#hers find their theories fll"
devel#ed in this movement" --5!dl-6aha )191*$
"@egistered 5g$ A, 1:28 Trade-;ar( 259,2A1 7nited 4tates Patent
Bffice National 4#irital 5ssem!l" of the 6aha>is of the 7nited 4tates
and &anada of Ne% .or(, N$ .$ 5##lication filed ;arch 10, 1:28$ 4erial
No$ 262,:23$ 65H5>0 4T5T<;<NT To the &ommissioner of PatentsE
National 4#irital 5ssem!l" of the 6aha>is of the 7nited 4tates and
&anada, a common-la% cor#oration, organi?ed and o#erated nder the
declaration of trst and doing !siness at$$$
5s %e read and re-read the statement, %e are lost in a sea of
ama?ement$ +e r! or e"es, %e fidget, %e feel restlessC %e %onder
%hether all this is not a nightmare--im#ossi!le, incredi!le$ +e stagger,
and search in or consciosness for an e=#lanationC then, com#letel"
!affled, %e loo( # into the face of ;r$ Horace Holle"$ ;a"!e he %ill tell
s %hat this means- He smiles, trim#hantl" #ointing to the signatre,
and %e readE National 4#irital 5ssem!l" of the 6aha>is of the 7nited
4tates and &anada !" Horace Holle", 4ecretar"$$$$ There is a sta(e on
the FsorceF of the 6ahai &ase and its o%ner-#ro#rietor is the
National 4#irital 5ssem!l" of the 6ahais of the 7nited 4tates and
&anada$ The F#ass%ordF given to man(ind !" 6aha>>llah, to !e sed
for the regeneration of nations, is in the #ossession of the 6ahai
administrators" )195-196*$
"No one on the face of the earth can fathom the Fm"ster"F latent in
the name F6ahaiF e=ce#t these inter#reters of the la%, these
esteemed mem!ers of the all-#o%erfl 6ahai hierarch"$ The F/e%el
%ith man" facetsF is !o=ed and loc(ed, and the (e" is in the velvet
#oc(et of ;r$ Horace Holle"$$$$ The Fset of #rinci#les necessar" for the
#eace of the %orld, for economic sta!ilit", for the tre #rogress of
sciences and arts are registered and trade-mar(ed, and %oe nto
those %ho dare to s#ea( or %rite on these s!/ects-" )19A*$
"The remed" given !" the ,reat Ph"sician for the healing of the sic(
!od" of the %orld has !een made # into a #atent medicine, and no
one is allo%ed to avail himself of its restorative #o%ers e=ce#t !"
#ermission of these #arochial #harmacologists$ +e, the mem!ers of
the 6ahai Brgani?ation, have a #riorit" right on Fthe ideals of
fello%shi# and service irres#ective of race, creed, nationalit" and
class,F and those %ho #t these #rinci#les into #ractice are or
Finsidios enemiesF )19A*$
"0n the light of the a!ove rles, it is not difficlt to #ictre the (ind of
societ" that %old !e ors if the 6ahai commnit" !ecomes
%ides#read nder the aegis of the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" of the
6ahais of the 7nited 4tates and &anada$ 5n" dictator %ho might arise
in this contr", of %hatsoever #olitical he, red, !ro%n, !lac( or
"ello%, %old ta(e to his heart and cherish these deaf, dm! and !lind
s!/ects, tterl" servile and s!servient, %ho %old never o##ose him
nor resist his most crel la%s or indeed his slightest %him$ The
citi?enr" of these #rod 7nited 4tates %old !ecome a race of
atomata, a chain-gangC and or fair democrac" %old have !een
converted into a nightmare, more gresome and frightfl than cold
!e imagined !" an" H$ ,$ +ells in his most des#ondent mood" )156-
15A*$
";" #ersonal o#inion is that if some effectal means !e not #resentl"
ado#ted to dis#erse this sacrosanct hierarch", to nllif" its #o%er and
destro" its athorit", it %ill ere long redce the 6ahai &ase to the
stats of a sect, seeing that it has no% %a=ed so e=ceedingl" #ffed
# %ith #ride as to attac( an"one %ho, !efore the face of his ;a(er,
calls himself a 6ahai$ 0f a method !e not devised to chec( the
inordinate am!itions of these administrators of the 6ahai &ase, the"
%ill, for the esta!lishment of their o%n n-5merican, n-democractic
ideolog", so limit the s#irital #otenc" of the %ords of 6aha>>llah that
the effect of these %ords on the hearts of men %ill !e redced to a
%his#er" )15A*$
"0f this gro# is left to contine in its corse of ever" da" devising a
ne% loc(, of forging a ne% chain, of fashioning a ne% %hi# for
a##lication of the fair !od" of the &ase, then, 0 s%ear !" the 5lmight"
that 6aha>>llah himself %ill arise in his 4#reme Po%er and shatter
these fetters to a thosand #ieces, ths freeing his ;essage and
setting it again to flo%, li(e a tmltos c"clone, throgh the %ide
avenes of life- )15:*$
"+hat 0s the 6ahai &ase2 The 6ahai &ase is a free s#irital
@evelation$ 6aha>>llah, as its 1onder, #ra"ed that all men ma"
#arta(e of the inestima!le !lessings of his ;essage$ This ;essage, in
its essence, !elongs to hmanit", and no individal, no gro# of
individals, no chrch, no state, no organi?ation, no administration can
la" an e=clsive claim to it$ 0t cannot !e trade-mar(ed, and it cannot
!e #atented$$$$ FThe %ords of ,od are inde#endentF of the
s#onsorshi# of a cor#oration" )15:*$
"The &om#laint, served on 5#ril 25thC the 5mended &om#laint,
#resented on Ine AthC the 4##lemental 6ill of Particlars, added on
Bcto!er 30th, and the final ;emorandm, s!mitted to the &ort on
'ecem!er 2A, 1:90 $ $ $ dis#la" a shifting of attitde ver" #er#le=ing
to the stdent of these docments$ The la%sit started ot on the
!asis of the trade-mar( held on the %ord F6ahaiF, !t this definite
claim %as dro##ed in the F5mendedF &om#laint and in all s!seDent
Pa#ers$ The same #rocess of elimination on other claims is follo%ed,
more or less reglarl", in the series of !riefs, sho%ing that the
#laintiffs %ere la!oring nder confsion of thoght and #r#ose$
6aseless assertions and fantastic allegations %ere advanced as factsC
!t no #roofs %ere offered$$$$ "et hndreds of Ne% .or(>s #!lic,
(no%ing the sitation !t slightl", %old have !een %illing to go on
record, stating that some of these charges %ere o!viosl" not tre$ 5t
an" rate, according to the &ort Fno factsF %ere ever #rodced and no
Fgood case of actionF %as ever advanced" )1A1-1A2*$
"5s one stdies these docments, one comes to the reali?ation that
the #laintiffs are o!sessed %ith a single thoght and #r#ose, namel"E
that 6aha>>llah came to earth to form an organi?ation and that his
teachings are to !e mono#oli?ed !" them$ This line of argment, li(e
the ominos ndertone of a ,ree( traged", rns throghot all their
demands$ The" !elieve that or Fnla%flF #!lic teaching of the
6ahai &ase is Ftres#assingF #on their rights and #rivileges and
%or(s to their Fdamage and in/r"FC and the" consider that, if %e are
#ermitted to FcontineF in these Fnla%fl actsF, the National
4#irital 5ssem!l" of the 6ahais of the 7nited 4tates and &anada and
the 4#irital 5ssem!l" of the 6ahais of the &it" of Ne% .or( F%ill
sffer irre#ara!le in/r"F" )1A2*$
"'ring the eleven "ears of the e=istence of The Ne% Histor"
4ociet" $ $ $ ;r$ and ;rs$ &hanler have #ored in their mone" freel",
/o"osl", as grist to the mill of their endeavor$ 4mall contri!tions to
the %or( came in no% and then, from or mem!ers, some !oo(s %ere
sold and the #roceeds added to the !dget, !t ninet"-nine and three-
Darters #ercent of the total e=#ended on the maintenance of the %or(
came from the one sorce--;r$ and ;rs$ &hanler$ <ver"!od" (no%s
thisC and "et the #laintiffs Fclaim that %e have made #rofits, and
diverted to orselves contri!tions to the 6ahai &aseF %hich
other%ise %old have !een received !" them$ 5ll these allegations
%ere nder oath$ Here, one cannot hel# %onder at the mental
#rocesses %hich ma(e sch claims and oaths #ossi!le$$$$ 4o, the &ort
did not confer #on the #laintiffs a s#irital and material mono#ol" on
the 6ahai Teachings" )1A9-1A9*$
"5 most incom#rehensi!le as#ect of the design of the National 4#irital
5ssem!l" %as tter confidence in the /stice of its #lan and com#lete
assrance of victor"$ Bne reason for this a##arent confidence %as, 0
ss#ect, the small %eight %hich its mem!ers #laced on the garantee
of religios li!ert" in this contr" as set forth in the 6ill of @ights,
together %ith a minimi?ing of the effect %hich this la% of tolerance had
had on the consciosness of the 5merican #eo#le" )1A5*$
"The decision handed do%n in the 4#reme &ort of Ne% .or( !"
Istice 3ois 5$ 8alente on 5#ril 1, 1:91, is an e#och-ma(ing
docment for $ $ $ its contents have niversal a##lication$ <loDentl"
and definitel", Idge 8alente has reaffirmed the validit" of the 6ill of
@ights$ 0n the case nder revie%, he denies $ $ $ a mono#ol" on the
%ord F6ahaiF, ths constitting, in the name of the latest revealed
religion, a charter of freedom %hich shall stand as long as this nation
retains the character conferred #on it !" its fonders$ 0 thin( that %ill
!e Fal%a"sF--in s#ite of the #erils that menace li!ert" in these sad
times$ Ths, from no% on, an" sincere see(er after trth, %ho has
reali?ed his highest as#irations in the 6ahai &ase, can term himself a
follo%er of 6aha>>llah and se his name %ithot let or hindrance$ No
one can molest him or tr" to ndermine his service in the movement"
)182*$
"The ;ost 0m#ortant Point$ Istice 8alente rled that Fthe #laintiffs
have no right to a mono#ol" of the name of a religion$ The defendants,
%ho #r#ort to !e mem!ers of the same religion, have an eDal right
to se the name of the religion in connection %ith their o%n meetings,
lectres, classes and other activities$ This is the most im#ortant #oint
in DestionC for, henceforth the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" cannot
claim, as it has # to this time, that it is the sole re#resentative of all
the 6ahais in the land$ There are no%, and %ill !e in increasing
nm!ers, 6ahais %ho %old not thin( it a##ro#riate to !e re#resented
!" the National 4#irital 5ssem!l", and %hom the National 4#irital
5ssem!l" %old not thin( it a##ro#riate to re#resent$ The la%s of this
nation %ill !e the #ractical garantee of sch 6ahais, %ho %ill trn
their hearts to ,od in the service of 6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha,
%ithot !enefit of clerg" )18A-188*$
Not a @eligion
"0n std"ing the &om#laint, the 5mended &om#laint, the 6ill of
Particlars, the 4##lemental 6ill of Particlars and the final
;emorandm, one comes to the conclsion that the #laintiffs are
solel" #reocc#ied %ith the consolidation of their #rivileges as a
Fcor#orationF$ The" are dee#l" concerned over the #ossi!le diversion
from them of contri!tions and the ma(ing, !" others, of #rofits %hich
might have accred to their !dget$ The" enlarge on the s!/ects of
nfair com#etition, #ecniar" advantages and in/r" to !siness, and
let loose shafts of accsation on charges of tres#assing$ 0t is clear the
the 6ahai 5dministration is not a religion, !t a great cor#oration,
having Fmore than one hndredF s!sidiar" cor#orations o#erating in
varios #arts of the 7nited 4tates and &anada$ 6efore the &ort, it
annonces that it is the trstee and cstodian of a variet" of
#ro#erties, inclding a tem#le nder constrction at +ilmette, 0llinois,
#on %hich more than a million dollars has !een e=#ended, to date$
3i(e%ise, there is a trst fnd nder its control as %ell as a #!lishing
concern$ 5ll these material advantages are #ossessed !" the 6ahai
5dministration, and no com#etition shall !e allo%ed in the 6ahai name
and teachings %hich are the sorce of its %ealth- No, the 6ahai
5dministration is not a religion$ The 6ahai &ase, from %hich it
derives, %as schC !t that %as long ago" )1:1*$
"6" no stretch of imagination can %e invest the mem!ers of the
National 4#irital 5ssem!l" %ith the same innocence$$$$ Then, %h" did
the" allo% themselves to #er#etrate the nethical act of concealing
from the &ommissioner of the 7nited 4tates Patent Bffice the fact that
the %ord 6ahai %as derived from the name F6ahaF, and that F6ahaF
%as a #erson, and more, that he %as the fonder of a 7niversal
@eligion2 The ans%er is of corse #lain$ 0n sch a case, the" %old
have !een refsed the trade-mar(-" )211*$
"Hence, the trade-mar( on the s"m!ol of the F;B4T ,@<5T N5;<F,
the a##lication for %hich %as signed !" ;r$ Horace Holle", 4ecretar",
constittes the roc(-!ottom of infidelit" in the annals of the 6ahai
5dministration$ No frther act, ho%ever !lac(, can rival this one"
)218*$
"The National 5ssem!l" of the 6ahais of the 7nited 4tates and &anada
has t%o faces--li!eral and orthodo=C democratic and totalitarianC and
these faces are mirrored on the #ages of their t%in #!lications,
entitled F+orld BrderF and F6ahai Ne%sF$ The former, %hich is
intended for the #!lic, reflects !road modern ideasC the latter,
#!lished for F6ahais Bnl"F, #resents articles and ne%s designed to
!olster # and maintain a des#otic and illogical s"stem" )223*$ G"The
5merican 6aha>i" no% serves the role of the latter$H
"Here %e see that, %hile the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" asserts that
religios controvers" is not a Dalit" of 5merica, it allo%s itself the
ver" n-5merican action of dragging its fello%-!elievers into the la%-
corts over nothing more nor less than a Freligios controvers"F$
+hile it states that in this contr" a varied #o#lation has !een
assred freedom of conscience and the individal right to %orshi# ,od
according to an" #ractice, it e=erts itself to de#rive the mem!ers of
The Ne% Histor" 4ociet" and all li!eral 6ahais of this ver" Findividal
right to %orshi#F ,od according to their convictions and !eliefs$ +hile
it s#ea(s of the Fclimate of toleranceF, it disseminates among its
commnities the #oison of theological controvers" and, %ithot merc"
or let-#, #ersectes the li!eral elements %ithin its o%n ran(s$ 6t
then, this #iece of %riting is for the #!lic, %hile the actal doctrines of
the 6ahai 5dministration ma" !e stdied !" the elect %ithin the #ages
of the F6ahai Ne%sF" )229*$
"0t is tre that the National 4#irital 5ssem!l", once in a %hile !efore
its o%n mem!ershi#, #retends to vale the assets conferred !" these
7nited 4tates$ 0n a letter dated 1e!rar" 15, 1:91, and addressed to
F6ahai 1riendsF, it Destions mornfll"E >0n or favored contr" %e
are still in #ossession of or freedom, or #ossessions, or li!ert" of
thoght--ho% long %ill the" last2> 0ndeed, not long if this instittion
has its %a"- The #resent da" 6ahai organi?ation is the model #on
%hich an alleged %orld order is to !e fashionedC and %hat a %orld
order it %ill !e, /dging from the #attern- The individal is not allo%ed
to se his conscience, !t mst adhere to the rlings of his s#eriors
%ithot regard to modern social isses or hmanitarian inclinationsC
a!ove all, %ithot regard to the 6ahai teachings$ 7nder these
conditions, the !etter elements in the gro# are forced to maintain a
#ainfl silence, leaving the condct of affairs to those of less sensitive
fi!re$ 0t is largel" for this reason that the 6ahais (ee# themselves aloof
from crrent affairs$ The" fnction on a !asis that is ntena!leC
conseDentl", the" cannot loo( the %orld e"e to e"e$ 0 have heard
more than one of their leaders s#ea(ing on #!lic #latforms in ,eneva,
4%it?erland, at times %hen that cit" %as the h! of advanced thoght,
and these otstanding 6ahais cold not !ring themselves to the #oint
of #rononcing the name of 6aha>>llah$ +h" this2 4im#l" !ecase the
6ahai 5dministration has #rodced a com#le= among its advocates$
The ,ardian himself never ventres into the #!lic" )225*$
GThe nsa regarding its la%sit against 4ohra!HE "The commnit" of
!elievers at an" given time re#resents man" different stages of
develo#ment, and the hostilit" of the !etra"er and the foe comes as a
necessar" and hel#fl test of the individal !eliever>s nderstanding
and firmness$ That is all, e=ce#t for the frther consideration that the
1aith acDires #!lic inflence and esteem throgh the dramati?ation
of its vital #rinci#les nder onslaght or denial" )22A*$
";" o#inion is that, at %hatsoever door the agitation ma" /stl" !e
laid, a la% cort is at no time a fit #lace for controvers" among the
follo%ers of 5!dl-6aha" )22:*$
"The otcome of this charge %as the same as that of all the other
chargesE it fell to the grond !ecase it %as totall" ns!stantiated$
5ll this is fnn", in a senseC and "et actall", it is not fnn" that those
%ho signed this docment shold so lend themselves to dece#tion and
ntrth" )292*$
"&reeds and articles of faith %ere formlated !" scceeding
generations of theologians, men %ho had lost the vision of the
Pro#hets and %ere %andering in the %aste desert of meta#h"sical
s#eclations$ This is %hat ha##ened to &hristianit"$ 0t is ha##ening to
the 6ahai &ase toda"--%ith onl" a difference of terminolog"E The
6ahai theologians call themselves 5dministrators" )25:*$
@egarding the 5#ostle>s &reed
"Precations ta(en !" the 1onders$ 0t %as too mch to e=#ect that
the 6ahai &ase %old !e immne to this #rocess of stratification, !t
!oth 6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha did their ver" !est to avoid sch a
calamit"$ Throgh continos e=#lanations, the" made vivid this
danger in order that the 6ahai ;ovement might !e fore-armed and
#rotected from the errors of the #revios religions$ The" %ere most
em#hatic on the #oints that this &ase is niversal and all-inclsiveC
that it does not lead itself to the creation of an hierarchical orderC that
its fndamental !asis is nit" and not ecclesiastical distinctionsC that it
is essentiall" a s#irital fello%shi# and not a sectarian cor#oration %ith
e=clsive #rivilegesC that its charter is freedom from %orldl" and
material constittions, and that its greatness de#ends #on non-
cr"stalli?ation and o#en #ortals$$$$ The a!ove sho%s the em#hasis that
6aha>>llah #laced on condct, and on activit" in the #ath of ,od$
;oralit" and not creeds, deeds and not %ordsC service and not articles
of faith" )261*$
"0t too( almost t%o centries for &hristian theologians to formlate
FThe Bld @oman &reedF and ths insert in the #re 1aith a "ard-stic(
and a !ldgeon$ 0n this instance, ho%ever, it too( onl" a fe% "ears for
F6ahai theologiansF, nder the more modern title of F6ahai
5dministratorsF, to set # FThe 6ahai &reedF %hich, redcing the
&ase from s#irit to matter, has alread" !ecome more athoritative
and !inding than FallF the teachings of 6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha"
)263*$
"Ths, %ithin the narro% limits of less than si= "ears after the
de#artre of 5!dl 6aha, a fe% 5merican 6ahais %rote the 'eclaration
of Trst and 6"-3a%s, s!mitted them to 4hoghi <ffendi and received
his sanction$ 0n this manner, the "ong &ase, so latel" de#rived of its
great Protector, %as, %ithot loss of time, shoved into an instittion--a
mere %aif, the latest one to enter the dar( edifice of @eligios
Brgani?ation" )263*$
"The a!ove articles of 6ahai &reed and &onfession demonstrate that,
not%ithstanding the %arnings of 6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha, their
&ase is toda" as handica##ed and circmscri!ed as are an" of the
instittionali?ed religions" )268-26:*$
6ahai B!scrantism
"These articles of the 6ahai &reed are the har!ingers to an era of
o!scrantism in this glorios movement$ The" are com#onded of
!igotr" in all its gresome forms and #ave the %a" to moral dar(ness$
This desire for concentrated athorit" is in direct o##osition to inDir"
and enlightenment$ 0t is a mediaevali?ing tendenc"$ 0n the ;iddle 5ges
%e had dr" scholasticismC in the 6ahai &ase %e have arid
administrative legalism$ The 6ahai 5dministration is the #rogen" of
religios intolerance, o!viosl" in/rios to s#irital freedom and
ethical emanci#ation$ The 5rticles of &reed as Doted are im#lements
of tortre in the hands of a 6ahai 5dministrative B!scrantist$
5ccording to his standard, the 6ahai &ase is to !e rn, not !" the
fresh s#rings of ins#iration, !t !" the eli=ir distilled from the %ithered
flo%ers of administrative theolog"" )2A0*$
"The im#lse to 6ahai B!scrantism, or to an" other form of
o!scrantism, arises from a dee#l" rooted, if not an inherent,
tendenc" in hman natre to distrst free inDir"$ This tendenc"
!ecomes aggravated %hen it o#erates in the s#here of religion$ 5n
neas" ss#icion of (no%ledge and its resltsC a disli(e for a li!eral
and inDisitive mind, and a feeling of fear in regard to inde#endent
investigation of the trth as for something not %holl" good for an"
one--these sentiments have contri!ted to the evoltion of 6ahai
B!scrantism, %hich is the herald of #rofessional or class
e=clsiveness in the &ase as e=em#lified !" the National 4#irital
5ssem!l", and the local assem!lies" )2A1*$
"Bne o!serves the distortion of trth on the #art of the 6ahai
B!scrantists !" their n%holesome #reference for that %hich is
secondar" and derivative, as contrasted %ith that %hich is #rimar" and
fndamentalC !" their leanings to%ard the accretions and
em!ellishments of administration, as contrasted %ith the sorces of
ins#irationC to%ard the #ecliarities of theories and creeds, as
contrasted %ith the 6ahai o!ligations %hich are niversall" !inding$
The disli(e of the so#histicated, intellectali?ed 5mericans, li(e some
of the 6ahai administrators, for those common, sim#le, niversal
realities of the 6ahai &ase, %hich are the ver" sol of this movement,
has ta(en #ractical effect in the s!stittion of mechanistic, legalistic,
administrative and organi?ed athorit" for the seeing e"e and
illmined heart--and the reslt has !een a gradal diminishing of
reliance on the s#irital teachings of the &ase and a total a!sence of
enthsiasm on its !ehalf" )2A2*$
"The 6ahai message is a call to religios nit" and not an invitation to
a ne% religion, not a ne% #ath to immortalit"$ ,od for!id- 0t is the
ancient #ath cleared of the de!ris of imaginations and s#erstitions of
men, of the de!ris of strife and misnderstanding, and is again made a
clear #ath to the sincere see(er, that he ma" enter therein in
assrance and find that the %ord of ,od is one %ord, thogh the
s#ea(ers %ere man"" )2A5*$
"0f %e thro% a%a" the shell--organi?ation--at the ver" core %e shall
find the (ernel--3ove--in all its s#lendor and sim#licit"--and that 3ove
%ill ma(e s free- Throghot his life, 5!dl 6aha %as most em#hatic
on this s!/ectE No organi?ation, no ecclesiasticism and theolog", no
limitations and restrictions in the 6ahai &ase$ Bn this tree, all the
!irds are invited to !ild their nests and raise their !roods$ To%ard this
heaven, the" all can soar and flood the earth %ith their golden songs$
0n order to engrave the vital #rinci#le of non-organi?ation #on the
minds of the 6ahais, <ast and +est, North and 4oth, 5!dl 6aha
often s#o(e on this s!/ect, %ith #o%er and athorit"" )2AA*$
"The a!ove clear and em#hatic %ords of 5!dl 6aha %ere sed in the
corse of #!lic addresses as one of the most characteristic teachings
of the &ase$ The" %ere Doted over and over again in nmeros
articles and sndr" #!lications$ 5!dl 6aha had sonded the clarion
callE No Brgani?ation in the 6ahai &aseC and the echo of this order
rever!erated throgh the corridors of the minds and s#irits, for a
time--and then it died a%a"" )2AA-2A8*$
"0t remains a tragic commentar" on the ndevelo#ed natre of the
5merican 6ahais that the instittion of the ;ashreD-7l-5?(ar, the
erection of %hich %as intended to create centers of divine emotions,
actall" !ecame the mains#ring for the organi?ing of a s#irital case
and %as the origin of the redction of this movement to the stats of
an ecclesiastical order" )283*$
"The tendenc" to%ard organi?ation had, from the ver" !eginning,
e=isted among the 5merican 6ahais, !t it remained for ;r$ Holle" to
develo# it, to officiali?e it, to ma(e it o!ligator" and to #lace the details
of 6ahai hose(ee#ing )and not ver" good hose(ee#ing at that* on a
level %ith the Teachings of the @evelator of the ;odern 5ge" )2:1*$
"The s#iritalit" that one cold someho% feel in the t%o #revios
constittions is tterl" missing in this #ortentos and formida!le
'eclaration of Trst G1:26H$ 0t is an ice-!ond, /ridical docment$ 0ts
articles are li(e hailstones that #ierce and ct into the heart of the
readerC its #hrases are so %ind-laden that the" transform the !alm"
atmos#here of the Paradise of 5!ha into the frigid immensities of Nova
Kem!laC it is the a#otheosis of an infle=i!le organi?ation, the
h"#ostasis of the machineC it is the 6astille of Paris, the To%er of
3ondon and the &oncentration &am# of the Third @eich all rolled into
one, and stri(ing terror into the sol of a most hard" cham#ion of
freedom of conscience-" )305*$
"The #oint that 0 %ant to esta!lish and %hich 0 !elieve is alread"
#roven !e"ond the shado% of a do!t, is that the F'eclaration of
TrstF and F6"-la%sF originated in the !rain of an 5merican, or in the
!rains of 5mericans and that the 6a!, 6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha had
nothing to do %ith it" )308*$
"The officials no% !egan to soft-#edal the #hraseE FThe 6ahai &ase is
not an organi?ationF, and to remove it, little !" little, from cons#icos
#laces in their literatreC "et, to their discomfitre, the %ords
remained engraven on the minds of the #eo#le" )318*$
"Ths, the cam#aign develo#ed, increasing in momentm and
#resentl" FallF re#orts, #rograms, lectres, #!licit", radio !roadcasts,
annal &onventions, "oth activities, mem!ershi#, elections !ecame
FcoloredF %ith e=#ressions !ecoming to the 5dministrationC ntil
finall" in 1:28, a !oo( containing the earl" letters of 4hoghi <ffendi
%as #!lished nder the title F6ahai 5dministrationF$ This !oo(, %ith
the athorit" !ac( of it, cr"stalli?ed the #lan and made the name
#ermanent" )31:*$
"Bnl" the old 6ahais can a##reciate %hat the %riter means !" Fthe
elimination of an" non-6ahai vie%sF 0t %as no gentle elimination, !t
actall" a Hitlerian #rge condcted %ith fll #resent-da" Na?i
efficienc"$ 5nd as to Fre-edcation-F That is %here the Fgive-a%a"F
comes inC for in that #eriod, %hich the %riter fran(l" designates as
dating from the de#artre of the ;aster, the #oor sim#le 6ahais %ere
edcated along totall" different lines from those %hich the" (ne% and
loved, and %hich the" !elieved to !e the F&aseF" )320*$
"Here then, in #lain langage, %e have nine Hitlers, or nine ;ssolinis,
or nine 4talins, all rolled into oneC or #ro!a!l" %e have a fe% of each
s#ecies, com!ining their athorit" over, not 80 million ,ermans and
more than 100 million conDered #eo#les, 95 million 0talians and 1A5
million @ssians, !t over the conscience and activities of 2589 #lain,
sim#le, fol(s", democratic 5mericans$ +ith sch #ara#hernalia to hold
them in order, these 5merican 6ahais mst indeed !e the most nrl"
and re!ellios #eo#le on the face of the earth-" )323*$
"5d!l 6aha told his follo%ers that the 6ahai &ase %as not a Fne%F
religion, and that it %as their mission to carr" the leaven of tolerance
into all circles, ths little !" little, demolishing sectarian lines of
demarcationC "et the 5dministration has ado#ted a #olic" of com#lete
@<30,0B74 04B35T0BN, raising sch iron-clad frontiers arond their
constitents that none of them can overste# them or #resme to
adhere to the in/nction of 6aha>>llahE F5ssociate %ith the #eo#le of
all religions %ith /o" and fragranceF" )325*$
"0n this manner has the 5dministration ado#ted a #olic" of 4B&053
04B35T0BN, im#ossi!le to reconcile %ith the contents of most of the
addresses delivered !" 5!dl 6aha in <ro#e and 5merica, for these
deal %ith the a!olition of #olitical !ondaries, the eradication of social
limitations, the ensring of the economic #ros#erit" of man(ind and
the esta!lishment of a ne% common%ealth of hmanit" !ased on
freedom, /stice and #eace$ 5nd again, as or minds d%ell on the
Teachings, no% so com#letel" o!scred, %e come %ith a shoc( on the
%ords of 6aha>>llahE FBh #eo#le $ $ $ !e intent on the !etterment of
the %orld and the training of nationsF" )32A*$
"This is the !ilding # of a theocratic order, so intransigent, so
frightfl, that nothing hitherto imagined can match it$ 4hoghi <ffendi is
indeed correct in sa"ing that his s"stem is niDe and has no #arallel
in all the annals of histor"-" )333*$
"5n integral #art of an organi?ation is FfndsF and Ffnd raisingF, and
from this drear" as#ect of concerted effort the 6ahai 5dministration is
not e=em#tC in fact, the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" has so
accentated the s!/ect of contri!tions that Fmone"F ran(s alongside
of Fathorit"F as the second featre in italics of the &ase as it stands
toda"" )333*$
"<ver"!od" %ho acce#ts the 1aith at the hands of the 5dministration
#laces himself or herself nder the severe o!ligation of contri!ting
fnds to the movement, %hile those %ho acDire the Teachings
throgh other channels ndergo no ta=ation %hatsoever$ 0t is evident
that the 5dministration, having in mind the dram of %orld dominion
)%hich dream seems to inclde one of niversal ta=ation*, %old
consider sch inde#endent individals or gro#s as a menace to its
#lan for tem#oral #o%er, and this ndo!tedl" e=#lains, in #art, the
disfavor in %hich The Ne% Histor" 4ociet" is held" )336*$
";" B!/ect$ 0 have herein otlined the circmstances %hich led to the
fonding, develo#ment and esta!lishment of the 6ahai 5dministration,
an instittion %hich !" this time has so identified itself %ith the &ase
that the large ma/orit" of 6ahais feel that this niversal movement,
!orn in Persia, is nathentic %ithot the trade-mar(E F;ade in the
7nited 4tatesF$ 3i(e an octo#s, this sinister organism has %ond
itself a!ot its victim, %hile the FfaithflF, ever o!edient to athorit"
and #o%er, stifle %hatsoever instincts of res#onsi!ilit" that "et remain
in their hearts$ No%, 0 do not flatter m"self %ith the ho#e of ma(ing
even a dent on the consciosness of those %ho follo% the
5dministrationC sch is not m" o!/ect in %riting this !oo($ 0 merel"
%ish to set do%n, as a record for the ftre, a fe% notes of historic
im#ortance, !elieving that no one else is #ossessed of the (no%ledge,
the docmentation and the F%illF to do so$ 0n addition, 0 am inserting
the vie%s of an individal %ho loves the &ase devotedl" and %ho
!elieves that he nderstands, in some measre, the li!eral and loft"
intentions of 5!dl 6aha$ Perha#s, some da", %hen man(ind has
learned mch throgh sffering, a fe% scholars %ill loo( throgh these
#ages and gain a ne% im#ression of the movement$ 6t, this is for the
ftre and %hat the ftre holds, no man (no%s")33A*$
"1or the letter (illeth, !t the s#irit giveth life$ No%, the 3ord is that
s#irit, and %here the 4#irit of the 3ord is, there is li!ert"$" <#istle of
Pal, 00 &orinthians, &ha#ter 3, 8erses 6 and 1A$ Loted )353*$
"6aha>>llah %as a cham#ion of religios li!ert", an a#ostle of
intellectal freedom and the advocate of man>s emanci#ation from the
fetters of dogmas and creeds$ His teachings inagrated an era of
hman !rotherhood on a logical fondation, and made a ro"al circle of
niversal nderstanding among the religions, nations and races$
&onseDentl", the 6ahai &ase stands for eDalit", and this eDalit" of
corse can have no meaning e=ce#t eDal rights for FallFC nor can
there !e a fnctioning of eDal rights nless the individal is allo%ed
li!ert" to act according to his !est /dgment and the dictates of his
conscience" )35A*$
"0n the %ords of 6aha>>llah %hich 0 have re#eatedl" Doted
throghot the #receding #aragra#hs, %e #lainl" see that the s#reme
mission of this Pro#het has !een to confer #on the #o#lation of the
entire earth the inaliena!le rights of li!ert" of religion, of s#eech and
of the #ress$ <videntl", emanci#ation of mind and s#irit is a
fndamental doctrine of the 6ahai &ase, even as it is an elementar"
la% of the 7nited 4tates$ 0t originates in the li!eration of a moral
#ersonalit", %or(ing to%ards the Highest ,ood--the F4#reme
&oncorseF, or in &hristian terminolog", the Jingdom of Heaven"
)362-363*$
"5ccording to Hitler>s #olic" ma(ers, the Na?i regime of dictatorshi# is
set at one thosand "earsC !t, to the National 4#irital 5ssem!l"
sch a #eriod is !t a short and fleeting moment$ 0ts vision is far more
grandioseC indeed, it envisaged a F#er#etalF dictatorshi# to !e
im#osed on ever" as#ect of s#irital life, !ac(ed !" the la%s of the
7nited 4tates" )3A0*$
".et, the %hile 0 as( these Destions, 0 (no% ver" %ell that or
s##osed sins are far greater than these, and more seriosE +e do not
srrender or religios li!ert" nor s!mit to the cor#orate and
ecclesiastical athorit" of the National 4#irital 5ssem!l"$ +e trn to
6aha>>llah %ithot as(ing #ermission$ +e carr" the name of 5!dl
6aha in or hearts and on or li#s$ +e s#read the ideals of #eace and
!rotherhood as taght !" these, or !eloved ;asters$ +e hold
meetings and deliver lectres on s#irital s!/ects relative to the 6ahai
&ase$ +e %rite and #!lish leaflets, #am#hlets and !oo(s on the
6ahai ;ovement$ .es, %e #er#etrate all these actions, in love
ha##iness and freedomC %e have ste##ed ot into the o#en s#aces of
service, nmindfl of o!ligations im#osed on s to remain on #er#etal
#arole and on #er#etal #ro!ationC and these crimes have !een
committed in !road da"light, n!lshingl" and %ith no tremors of fear$
0ndeed, %e are fll" a%are of the fact that fe% 6ahais %old have
acted as %e have" )3A1*$
"No%, the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" trns the (e", o#ening to%ard
6aghdad and #ors re#roaches #on the officials of that cit" !ecase,
in their dealings %ith the 6ahais, the" do not #t into #ractice Fthe
#rinci#le of li!ert" of conscience and religionF as em!odied in their
Brganic 3a%$ Then, this same 5ssem!l" trns the (e" o#ening to%ard
Ne% .or( and #ors re#roaches, even more vehement, #on a gro#
of 6ahais in The Ne% Histor" 4ociet", !ecase the" have allo%ed
themselves to #t into #ractice Fthe #rinci#le of the li!ert" of
conscience and religionF as taght !" 6aha>>llah and 5d!l 6aha, and
as em!odied in the 6ill of @ights" )3A6*$
"No%, the #oint %hich 0 again %ish to call to the attention of the reader
is the contradictor" attitde of the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" %hich,
on the one hand, #ts for%ard sch a st#endos amont of time,
energ" and mone" to lift the !an on entr" of 6ahai literatre in
FPersiaF, on the !asis of Fthe #o%er of religios freedom and
international commnication cstomar" in modern timesFC %hile, on
the other hand, it s#ends a ver" a##recia!le amont of time, energ"
and mone" to #lace a !an on this same literatre in the F7nited
4tatesF )380*$
"To m" mind, the ma/or tenor of 6ahai life is the #rocess of the
transmtation of athorit" into li!ert"C of tradition into freedom of
thoght and actionC it is the ceaseless renovation of ha!its and
cstoms and the incoming and otgoing of the s#irit of trth to and
from the heart of a 6ahai$ No individal or gro# shold have
dictatorial rights over other individals or gro#s, and ever"one shold
!e allo%ed to fnction as a 6ahai according to the dictates of his
conscience$
0n or striving after freedom of conscience and li!ert", %e have !een
accsed !" the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" of a tendenc" to !rea(
a%a" from the divine governmentC of a destrctive effort to atomi?e
the distinctive teachings of the &aseC of #lanning to !ring a!ot
dissoltion of disci#line and order$ 6t the National 4#irital 5ssem!l"
has lost sight of the im#ortant fact that a hman 6ahai #ersonalit"
mst #ossess the moral #rivilege of e=#ressing itself in thoght and
action, and that it is entitled, throgh divine right, to emanci#ation
%hich in itself is the essence of disci#line and the s!stratm of the
divine order$
5 moral 6ahai #ersonalit" has t%o as#ects$ The first is the niversal
as#ect, %hich 0 call the religios or the s#irital, in virte of %hich
ever" 6ahai oght to have com#lete and nchallenged right to
idealistic and ethical self-e=#ression$ Here, freedom of conscience
holds cort %ith no rivalC here, %e en/o" li!ert" of thoght, ndivided
and %hole$ Then, there is the individal as#ect, to %hich 0 ascri!e legal
or state o!ligations$ Here, the individal 6ahai, as a mem!er of
societ", is called #on to o!serve the la%s of the 4tate and reali?e the
fact that, althogh he is free to !rea( an" of these la%s, he is at the
same time lia!le to !e haled into cort and #nished for his
infractions$
Toda", in the civili?ed %orld, there is FnoF religios tri!nal that can
Fcom#elF a man to a##ear !efore it on accont of his so-called
heresies or n!eliefs in the doctrines of the chrch$ 0n the moral
s#here, there is no /dge to condemn a #erson$ The religios
athorities ma" e=commnicate him, !t sch an act %ill not !e legal
in an" state cort and %ill sim#l" !e regarded as the decision of a
gro# of ecclesiastical disci#linarians$
0n !rief, the relation s!sisting !et%een an individal 6ahai and his
gro# mst !e conditioned !" the incontroverti!le #ostlate that, as a
moral #ersonalit", he shall have all rights to thin( and act
s#ontaneosl" and consistentl" according to his o%n s#irital insight"
)381-382*$
"0nde#endent 0nvestigation$ 5 fndamental la% of religion and
#hiloso#h" is freedom of inDir" and investigation, together %ith the
inaliena!le right of each individal to e=#ress the reslt of his search
%ithot an" e=ternal control or official s#ervision$ F&ensorshi#F as
a##lied to the frits of the s#irit is the negation of the s#irit itself"
)385*$
"Bn his visit to this contr", 5!dl 6aha %as as(edE +hat is the
greatest thing "o have seen in 5merica2 and he ans%eredE FThe
greatest thing 0 have seen in 5merica is its freedom" )386*$
"5 'ramatic &hange$ This attitde of religios li!eralism and freedom
of conscienceC this Fideali?ationF of the Fli!ert" of thoght and right of
s#eechFC this Fright of nrestricted individal !eliefF came to an end
%ith the de#artre of 5!dl 6aha from this life, in 1:21$ 0mmediatel",
a sdden and dramatic change of #rinci#le and #olic" %as inagrated,
for 4hoghi <ffendi, the ,ardian of the 6ahai &ase, in a letter dated
;arch 5, 1:22, created a censorshi# to !e a##lied not onl" to all 6ahai
%ritings and !oo(s, !t to all other matters as %ell$$$$ This desire to
control the thoghts and actions of the 6ahai commnit", this drive
to%ard the centrali?ation of athorit", this creation of a !oard of
censorshi#, this #lan of !ringing nder the fll /risdiction of the
National 4#irital 5ssem!l" FallF matters #ertaining to the 6ahai
&ase is, to sa" the least, in strange and incom#rehensi!le contrast to
the !road tolerance and li!eralit" of 6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha" )38A-
38:*$
"+ith sch intensive control e=ercised over ever" de#artment of the
6ahai &ase, the !elievers !ecome mere atomata, having no %ill of
their o%n, no incentive and no initiative to start an" original
nderta(ingC for, the" are at all times conscios that, at an" moment,
the heav" hand of the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" ma" fall #on them
and destro" their la!ors" )3:1*$
"+hat a s"stem- 5##arentl" %e are a lot of %a"%ard children$ <ver"
%ord, s#o(en or %ritten, mst !e scrtini?edC ever" action mst !e
controlled$ +e are, indeed, according to these e=traordinar" orders, as
dead men in the hands of an nderta(er$ +h", in heaven>s name,
!ecome 6ahais2 +hat !enefits do %e receive from this s#irital
totalitarianism2" )3:1-3:2*$
"This @evie%ing &ommittee or 6oard of &ensorshi# is #atterned on the
chrch athorities of the ;iddle 5ges %hose fnction it %as to
s##ress the e=#ression of free thoght" )3:2*$
"0f in an" realm more than an" other %e need freedom, it is in the
domain of religion$ Histor" has sho%n s that censorshi# ma" de#rive
a nation of its !est leadings and ins#irations$ 5gain, 0 assert that no
man or !od" of men is %ise enogh or tolerant enogh to !e entrsted
%ith #o%er controlling the e=#ression of thoght, either in the &atholic
&hrch or otside of it$ The right of free s#eech and free #ress is the
most #recios #ossession of man, and there is no athorit" on the face
of the earth %hich has the right to %ithhold it" )3:9*$
"Having #laced all (inds of iron fences arond the Jingdom of 6ahai
thoght, closing the F+a" of 1reedomF that 6aha>>llah had Fo#enedF
and sealing Fthe 1ontain of Jno%ledgeF %hich %as intended to flood
the earth %ith its sal!rios %aters, the legislator of the @evie%ing
&ommittee solemnl" affirmsE--
The purpose of this statement is to assure proper protection of the
interests of the bahai faith, while providing sufficient freedom of action
to individual believers under all circumstances.
0n reading the a!ove FstatementF one cannot hel# %ondering %hat are
the #articlar Finterests of the 6ahai 1aithF %hich need F#ro#er
#rotection-F 'oes ,od and His Trth stand in need of the #rotecting
arm of the National 4#irital 5ssem!l"2 Br, is it the #eo#le %ho are to
!e #rotected from contamination throgh the 3ove of ,odC and are %e
to com!ine in a nion to !ar the common rn of hmanit" from access
to the life-giving %ords of 6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha2
.et, in regard to the clase %hich #rovides Fsfficient freedom to
individal !elieversF, #ro!a!l", it is a##ro#riate to offer a vote of
than(s to the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" for this largesse on their
#art, so ro"all" meted ot$ F4fficient freedom2F Bf corse- 0t is a
s#erflit", even !e"ond or deserts$ +h" shold %e !e gras#ing2 5s
intellectal and s#irital !ondsmen to the National 4#irital 5ssem!l",
%e mst acce#t or lo%l" station, and in all o!seDiosness stoo# to
#ic( # the crm!s that fall from the ta!le of or 5dministrative
masters- +ho are %e, and %hat are %e that %e shold dare to even
Fthin(F of more freedom2 The mem!ers of the National 4#irital
5ssem!l" are all-%ise, and the" sa" that it is sfficient$ 4o, sfficient it
is and sfficient it mst !e- +e shold as( no Destions$ 5s model
slaves, it is fitting that %e o!literate orselves !efore or s#eriors$
+e shold #ra" that %e !e characteri?ed %ith the Dalities of
mee(ness, deference, com#liance and s!servienc"$ +e shold, in all
hmilit", #resent or allegiance to these she#herds %ho have
assem!led s nder the overhanging roc( of their salvation and %ho,
in solicitde for s, have set aside a##ro#riate and FsfficientF
#astre-land, %here in %e ma" gra?e and offer them or than(sgiving
at da%n and at snset" )3:A-3:8*$
"5 'ivine 3egac"$ Ist the same, there are some %ho cannot !lot ot
the memor" of the 6ahai &ase as it %as taght once #on a time and
%ho, in s#ite of #revailing conditions, "et hold to the teachings of
6aha>>llah and the niversal e=#ositions of them as dis#ensed !"
5!dl 6aha$ ;an>s reason contains a trth %hich has e=isted since the
da%n of hman histor"E his s#irit is envelo#ed %ith a light %hich %as
en(indled !" ,od at the ver" fondation of creation$ This is no other
than a divine legac" reserved for s !" the ;a(er of the 7niverse$ The
Pro#hets a##eared #on the earth to remind s of these #reternatral
trths, %hich so consistentl" have !een defaced !" s#irital charlatans
and #erverted !" s#erstitios organi?ations$ 0n or o%n times,
6aha>>llah came to restore these lost trths throgh the free e=ercise
of rational and celestial facltiesC and no%, %hile #o%erfl inflences,
actall" F%ithinF the esta!lished 1aiths, have arisen to assist man(ind
in this #rocess of emanci#ation, the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" of the
6ahais of the 7nited 4tates and &anada, #itifll" claiming to re#resent
the foremost li!eral element in religion, has formed another set of
dogmas %here%ith to throttle free thoght and s!vert the essential
li!ert" of hman e=#ression in all its diversified manifestations$
&ensorshi#, in the social domain, is an otmoded t"rann"C in the
s#irital realm, it is n%holesome and im#ractica!le$ &ensorshi# is not
%anted an"%here, es#eciall" in the 6ahai &aseC and if %e allo% it to
retain the ##er hand in the great movement that has !een entrsted
to s, %e %ill set orselves # !efore the %orld and in the face of
histor" as false trstees, and as men and %omen n%orth" and nfit
to call orselves 6ahais" )3:8-3::*$
"The leaders of the 6ahai 5dministration in 5merica have for "ears
!een carr"ing on an ideological flirtation %ith the totalitarian religios
s"stems of the #ast, co#"ing their methods and #rocedres, and
manifesting the %hile a #ride and satisfaction as if the" had discovered
an entirel" ne% s"stem$ Nevertheless, the incom#ara!le %orth of
6aha>>llah>s genis lies in the fact that he has constrcted for the
children of this generation a s#irital fortress %hich shall #rotect the
rights of man against the encroachment of all religios dictators,
%hether in the 6ahai 5dministration or otside of it" )901*$
"A *an!eros *o()rine$ 0n considering the #ro!lem of fear, let s for
a %hile std" the %ritings of 4hoghi <ffendi, the ,ardian of the
&ase, and see ho% he handles this vital s!/ect$$$$ The three
#!lished volmes of 4hoghi <ffendi are F6aha>i 5dministration, The
+orld Brder of 6aha>>llahF and FThe 5dvent of 'ivine IsticeF, %hich
%or(s consist of the letters %hich he has addressed to the National
4#irital 5ssem!l" in the corse of the last 20 "ears$ No%, 0 have read
these three !oo(s and find that the %ords FenemiesF and
FadversariesF are greatl" featred$ 6aha>>llah has saidE F&onsort %ith
all men %ith /o" and fragrance, "et 4hoghi <ffendi, in his ver" first
letter, dated Ianar" 21, 1:22, %ritten after his assm#tion of the
gardianshi#, recommends Fthe a!solte shnning of %homsoever %e
feel to !e an enem" of the &ase$ )F6ahai 5dministration, #age 16$*
No%, 0 cannot !ring m"self to the #oint of !elieving that Fa!solte
shnningF of %homsoever %e FfeelF to !e the enem" of the &ase is a
#rinci#le of 6aha>>llah$ 0s ever" one going to let his FfeelingsF gide
him in the matter2 &an %e not ta(e for granted that frail hman !eings
as %e are, a great deal of #ersonal ca#rice and s#ite ma" enter into
or calclations as to F%hoF is the enem" of the 6ahai &ase2 This is
a ver" dangeros doctrine, and "et one finds it in different forms
throghot 4hoghi <ffendi>s commnications$ He #racticall" never
mentions the names of the FenemiesF or FadversariesF to %hom he
constantl" refers$ He sim#l" creates ogres and !oge" men, and fills the
hearts of the 6ahais %ith a##rehension and fear$ 0n this %a", the
fontain-head of free and o#en comradeshi# is dried # and the
flo%ers of loving-(indness %ither a%a"" )90:-910*$
"1ear &om#le=$ Throgh the #!lication and %ide distri!tion of these
instrctions, the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" and its follo%ers have
come do%n %ith an acte attac( of ecclesiastical goose-flesh and mch
energ" is s#ent in locating these FenemiesF and in nearthing their
F#lotsF$ ,ossi# !ecomes fact, and facts assme distorted #ro#ortions$
&onseDentl", a chain of corres#ondence is esta!lished among the
varios 4#irital 5ssem!lies, the o!/ect of %hich is to hnt do%n the
enemies and e=#ose them$ ;ean%hile, hatred is engendered and the
s#irit of tolerance, merc" and forgiveness is tram#led nderfoot" )918-
91:*$
"0n regard to !eing an Fenem" of the 1aithF, to this 0 definitel" ma(e
o!/ectionC nor do 0 allo% this statement to #ass %ithot ma(ing flat
denial$ 0f the #holding of the freedom of the &ase, is enmit" to the
&aseC if the teaching of the 6ahai #rinci#les, is FinstillingF #oison into
the minds of the hearers, then 0 assert, and %ithot reserve, that
6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha %ere enemies of the &ase, F#ar
e=cellenceF, and that their %ords %ere the essence of #oison #on
#oison" )925*$
"Ths, it is made most difficlt for <astern #eo#le of all faiths and
creeds to come in contact %ith 5merican 6ahais and to learn of the
&aseC and then to ca# this gorgeos strctre of e=clsiveness and
intolerance, a !ar is made, #reventing even the 5merican 6ahais,
travelling from one cit" to another, from visiting local 5ssem!lies or
having a chat %ith individal !elievers, if these travelers ha##en to !e
narmed %ith the #ro#er FcredentialsF$$$$ 4egregation- Th" name, is
indeed, 6ahai Brgani?ation-" )92:*$
"Ths, %e can see that 4hoghi <ffendi and the National 4#irital
5ssem!l" throghot these "ears have !ilt a segregated commnit"--
a commnit", the mem!ers of %hich are taght to ss#ect the motives
and actions of the most innocent--an isolated, self-centered, self-
satisfied commnit", living !ehind the iron %alls of a #rison %hich
6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha thoght to destro"" )931*$
"No%, 0 den" the tem#oral and s#irital right of e=commnication as
e=ercised in the #ast !" the ecclesiastical instittionsC and 0 re/ect
claims to the same #rerogatives %hich are maintained toda" !" those
%ho hold themselves as the she#herds of the floc(s$ 3ong enogh has
religion !een defaced !" this inhman contra#tion, o#erated !" so-
called Fhol"F men- 3ong enogh have these far-from-hol"-men
mani#lated the conscience of man(ind throgh their demoniacal
devices and, terming themselves the 8ice-,erents of the ;ost High,
im#osed their anti-s#irital and anti-social dogmas on a defenseless
and innocent hmanit"- The #eo#le of the %orld mst a%a(en to the
reali?ation that ,od, %ho is the fontain-head of all !lessings, %as not,
is not and %ill never !e an e=commnicator$ He is no ,od of %rath and
vengeance, !t a ,od of nderstanding and com#assion$ 5ll those %ho
sat on the thrones of athorit", e=#elling and anathemati?ing the
FdissentersF, did not themselves (no% %hat faith meant and had no
share in the trth that the" #retended to #romlgate$ The greatest
service that cold !e rendered to religion is to lift from its !ro% the
dar( crse of e=commnication and to demand, na" to insist, that this
la% !e strc( ot from the creeds of all faiths$ 5s long as it retains its
#lace, even theoreticall", in the 5rticles of the &onfessions of varios
sects and denominations, the esta!lishment of the #rinci#les of a
7niversal @eligion and a 7nivesal ,od %ill remain an im#ossi!ilit"$
Therefore %e, the #eo#le of the %orld, mst eradicate from the #ages
of or s#irital consciosness the langage of hate and dennciation,
and o!literate from or religios !oo(s the rles of e=#lsion and
anathema" )939-935*$
"The 6ahais are therefore called #on, !" the @evelator himself, to
s#ea( in the langage of love and to #rotect themselves from the dst
of liesC and the greatest lie of all the ages is that a com#assionate ,od
is the e=commnicator of His o%n children or that He a##roves
e=commnication in His Name" )936*$
"6ahai 5dministration 1ollo%s 4it$ The fe% Dotations from the
%ritings of 6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha #rove !e"ond the shado% of a
do!t that their central aim %as the a!olition of all e=clsive acts and
of ever" sectarian tendenc"$ This one all-em!racing s#irit distingishes
their case from all the #ast religions$ .et, Falas, this limitation, this
e=#lsion, this e=commnicationF, %hich 6aha>>llah and 5!dl 6aha
entreated their follo%ers to renonce and cast a%a", these evil s#irits
of a !"-gone age, these gi!!ering go!lins of a lost generation have
!een ta(en # !" the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" of the 6ahais of the
7nited 4tates and &anada and incor#orated in the fndamental la%s of
their ecclesiastical organi?ation$ The #it" of it is that 4hoghi <ffendi
falls in line %ith their medieval orthodo=", %ith the reslt that toda"
the 6ahai %orld is %itnessing religios #ersection, heres"-hnting and
e=commnication according to standard #attern$ 0n addition to this,
the National 4#irital 5ssem!l" does not #ermit its Frecogni?edF
follo%ers to /oin an" organi?ation, #olitical or religios, and the 6ahais
are reDired to cancel an" mem!ershi# the" ma" have in sch !odies$
Ths, it seems to me that this is not at all Fthe Ne% +orld Brder of
6aha>>llahF !t the ver" old %orld order of intolerance, fanaticism,
e=clsion and s#irital isolation %hich 6aha>>llah came to destro"$
Than(s to the la!or and ingenit" of the National 4#irital 5ssem!l"
and 4hoghi <ffendi, these lia!ilities of the dar( ages have !een
reca#tred and em!odied !ag and !aggage in this modern and one-
time health" movement" )991-992*$
"No%, do %e %ant to !ring into the 6ahai &ase these relics of
!ar!arism, these inventions of the devil2 Bne ma" legitimatel" arge
that sch conditions %ill never retrn to or %orld$ .et 0 ans%erE 4o
long as a single man claims this #o%er and the right to e=ercise it, and
a s!servient gro# "ields to his athorit", the #otential danger of a
retrn to the #ractices of the ;iddle 5ges Fe=istsF$$$$ Bn the other
hand, it is not difficlt to #ictre the esta!lishment of a t"#e of
s#irital crelt" %hich %old not necessitate the !rning of heretics at
the sta(e$ This is the 20th &entr", in s#ite of the <ro#ean
nightmare, and it is #ro!a!le that %e %ill content orselves %ith more
refined methods of #ersection$ +e are a!le to #ro#agate, !" s!tle
and Fcivili?edF methods, rmors that in time %ill destro" the character
of those %hom %e are #leased to #oint ot as enemies$ Ist (ee#
hammering at it, #ersistentl", nremittingl", and, in time, men %ill !e
read" to call %hite !lac(, and da" night" )996-99A*$
"<ver" sol, in acce#ting the 6ahai &ase, ma(es a covenant %ith
6aha>>llah, and that &ovenant, neither 4hoghi <ffendi nor the National
or 3ocal 5ssem!lies can ever !rea($ 0ts fondation is in the dee#s of
consciosness, and ,od alone (no%s its d%elling-#lace" )998*$
"5s a reslt of the doctrine of e=commnication #ro#onded !" 4hoghi
<ffendi and #held !" the National 4#irital 5ssem!l", the 6ahai &ase
has ta(en # all the characteristics of the &hrch of @ome and, nless
this doctrine is #!licl" re#diated, it %ill !e s!/ect to the same
s#irital diseases, %ith gradal corr#tion and disintegration" )951*$
"The 6lac( Plage$ The doctrine of e=commnication, a##ro#riated !"
4hoghi <ffendi, is #ecliarl" the %ea#on of the 'ar( 5ges of
intolerance and ignorance$ No other dogma is so distinctl" the creation
of an irreligios era$ 0t is the !lac( #lage in the realm of the mindC it
is religios assassination and s#irital mrderC it is an a!omination
nto the 3ord of ;erc" and Trth$ The s#irital and cltral
manifestations of the @enaissance as %ell as the corage and sacrifice
of thosands of lovers of freedom contri!ted to %rest )to all intents
and #r#oses* the #o%er of e=commnication from the hands of the
@oman &atholic &hrch and to esta!lish in <ro#e and 5merica the age
of the li!ert" of @eligion$ 'oes it then seem credi!le that 4hoghi
<ffendi is so nmindfl of the histor" of the #ast that he has !roght
himself to !elieve that he can !ring !ac( into the +estern %orld the
doctrine of e=commnication2 5re the mem!ers of the National
4#irital 5ssem!l" so !lind to the significant events in the 7nited
4tates dring the last hndred and fift" "ears that the" ho#e to
scceed in esta!lishing on these shores a religios tri!nal, %ith
athorit" to e=#el from the &ase those !elievers %hom the" are
na!le to !ro%-!eat into s!mission2" )953*$
"0f the 6ahai &ase as#ires to s#read its teachings far and %ide and
gain the res#ect and devotion of man(ind, no% or in the ftre, it
mst #rge itself of FallF the religios limitations of the #ast$ 0t mst
s!mit to a #rocess of com#lete self-#rification and then dedicate
itself to the #rogressive, s#irital, social and intellectal interests of
or fello%men$
The doctrine of e=commnication has Fnot oneF good thing in its favor$
0t has set men against men and class against class$ 0t has made the
leaders of religions ss#icios and revengefl, leaving !ehind an
accrsed memor"$ 0t is !e"ond m" com#rehension %h" 4hoghi <ffendi,
the ,ardian of a 7niversal ;ovement, %ishes to revive this #racticall"
lifeless cor#se and so inflict a mortal in/r" #on the &ase-
0n the face of this overriding danger, %hich is em!odied in 4hoghi
<ffendi>s claim that as the s#reme head of the &ase he has the
#o%er to e=commnicate or e=#el the !elievers, there!" de#riving
them of their s#irital heritage, no other choice is left to me !t to
sond the alarm$ 0 have !een im#elled !" motives !e"ond m" control
to #resent this #ro!lem !efore the 6ahai %orld, !efore the #!lic in
general, and !efore the conscience of an a%a(ening societ" %hich,
little !" little, is !ecoming a%are of the mission of 6aha>>llah )959*$"
"Here%ith 0 a##eal to 4hoghi <ffendi, as the ,ardian designated !"
the ;aster, to #reserve the democrac" of the 6ahai &ase, to #rotect
the vital dignit" of man, to o!literate all the traces of negation, to
herald the niversalit" of the ;essage of 5!dl 6aha, and, in so doing,
to Fe=#elF e=#lsion and Fe=commnicateF e=commnication$ 4ch
an e=commnication %old, indeed, !e %orth%hile-" )955*$
FF0nde#endent investigation-F The least that can !e said of this
#rinci#le of 6aha>>llah is that the ver" mention of it has, !" this time,
!ecome Fheres"F" )50:*$
"4hoghi <ffendi e=#resses Fhis a!horrenceF of #olitical affairs$ There is
the #oint- The ,ardian, living thosands of miles a%a", nfamiliar
%ith the democratic #rocesses of the Ne% +orld, finds them
distastefl, chooses to Fa!horF them, and then e=#ects all his
follo%ers to alter their #alates so that the" also ma" a!hor them$ 0
m"self cannot hel# Destioning the method of !ringing #ersonal taste
into the #ro!lem at all" )508*$
".es, m" gentle reader- 5lthogh 0 admit that it is almost too Daint to
!e treC for the #nishment meted ot !" 4hoghi <ffendi to the 6ahais
%ho do not acce#t his rling of non-#artici#ation in the #olitical affairs
of the 7nited 4tates is--!elieve it, if "o can--non-#artici#ation in the
#olitical affairs of the 6ahai movement$ 5ctall", the recalcitrant
6ahais, %ho #ersist in co-o#erating %ith their government for the
#rogress of the 'emocrac" %hich their forefathers esta!lished on
these shores, are de#rived of mem!ershi# in the 6ahai #olitical
machine, an instittion %hich has incor#orated %ithin itself all the
stratagems, tric(s and /ggleries of Tamman" Hall in its most
florishing da"s$ Ths, the recalcitrant 6ahai can no longer attended
the 5nnal 6ahai &onventions and sit !ehind closed doors in its secret
sessionsC he can no longer a##l" himself to electioneering, #ossi!l" for
Tenth or 1ifteenth Term candidatesC he can no longer go to the 6ahai
#olling !ooths nor ta(e advantage of the 6ahai a!sentee voteC he can
no longer share in the little #rivileges that are allo%ed to mem!ers in
good standing nor !as( in the snlight that is shed #on the hm!le
!" those %ho sit in High Places$ 5las- He mst resign himself to non-
#artici#ation in 6ahai #olitical affairs, no% and for evermore, as the
#rice for !eing a self-res#ecting citi?en of the 7nited 4tates, and for
having tried to ma(e his contr" a !etter #lace to live in" )512-513*$
"5n Forgani?ed religionF is hard, dor, rigid, iron-handed and iron-
heartedC it is stern, arrogant, coercive and merciless$ 5n
Fadministered religionF has !een, is and ever shall remain an
Farrested religionFC for the #remise that a fe% individals or a net%or(
of individals are a!le to organi?e or administer the s#irital realities
of ,od, is an assm#tion as false as it is im#ertinent, and as
otlandish as it is sacrilegios$ Here is the test of the tre religionE
'oes it nite the minds and hearts of the #eo#le in the tas( of
develo#ing a sta!le societ" and a hmane civili?ation2 'oes it ma(e s
more tolerant, more s"m#athetic, more com#assionate, more /o"os,
more sincere, more loving2 0f it accom#lishes these things, then it is
religion, indeed, and it comes straight from the &reator of the
7niverse" )51:*$
<=cer#ts from Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. Broken Silence: The Story of
Today's Struggle for Religious Freedom.
New York: Universal Pblishin!" #$%&. @e#rinted$ H-6ahaiE
3ansing, ;ichigan, 2009$
4ohra!>s entire !oo( ma" !e do%nloaded in one clic($ 2: mega!"tes$
htt#EMM%%%$fgla"sher$comM!ahaicensorshi#MarchivesM4ohra!6ro(en4ile
nce$#df
htt#EMM%%%$h-net$orgMN!ahaiMdigli!M!oo(sMP-TM4Msohra!M6ro(en$htm
)Please note that in its se of the tactic of fndamentalist "slanderos
vili'i(a)ion," the headnote on H-net violates the N<H, ;47, and H-
Net>s o%n democratic #rinci#les regarding scholarl" and academic
de!ate and discssion$ The associated lin(s and attem#ts to discredit
4ohra! %ith !ogs legal o#inions frther s!stantiate fanatical 6aha>i
a!se and ndermining of the democratic #rinci#les that s##ort H-
Net, "et another indication of the methods of fanatical !aha>is$*

5lso e=cer#ted from Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. The Will and
Testament of Abdul Baha, An Analysis.
New York: Universal Pblishin!" #$%%. @e#rinted$ H-6ahaiE
3ansing, ;ichigan, 2009$
<ntire !oo( ma" !e do%nloaded in one clic(E
htt#EMM%%%$fgla"sher$comM!ahaicensorshi#MarchivesM4ohra!+T56$#df
"0n F4ection 3F, 5!dl 6aha en/oins his follo%ers to im#licitl" o!e"
4hoghi <ffendi as the ,ardian of the &ase, and, to all intents and
#r#oses, to acce#t him as an infalli!le leader$ The matter of
o!edience is accentated to sch a degree that it a##arentl" redces
the stats of the !elievers to the level of intellectal and s#irital
serfdom$ 0f one ta(es 5!dl 6aha>s in/nctions literall" )and the
#resent-da" 6ahais are s#er-literalists*, agreeing that to o!e" 4hoghi
<ffendi is to o!e" ,od and to o##ose him is to o##ose ,od, there is no
esca#ing the conclsion that the ;aster as(s of s the srrender of or
%ills, minds and reason to the ,ardian--a srrender %hich is fraght
%ith far-reaching conseDences for it im#lies a !etra"al of the ver"
6ahai ideals %hich the ;aster himself s#ent his life sharing %ith the
%orld$ 'o!tless, the dee#est and the most searching desire of ever"
enlightened 6ahai is to o!e" ,od and 5!dl 6ahaC !t are %e reall"
honest %ith orselves, are %e sincere in or faith in 5!dl 6aha, if %e
!elieve and teach that he deli!eratel" %ished to divest s of all or
reasoning faclties and trn s into a commnit" of fa%ning, cringing,
snivelling, meal"-mothed s"co#hants, flatterers and fln(ies !efore
the a%esome throne of the ,ardian2 To in)er+re) )his se()ion o'
)he ,ill in s(h a li)eral sense" is" )o sa- )he leas)" ))erl-
shor).si!h)ed and a (om+le)e sbversion o' all )he !lorios
)ea(hin!s o' )he /ahai Case" )53*$
"No%, it is to !e ho#ed that %e nderstand 5!dl 6aha>s #r#ose %hen
he en/oins s in his +ill to o!e" the ,ardian at all times, and at all
costs$ 0 (no% that he did not mean s to divest orselves of the rights
and #rerogatives of or ,od-given reason$ 0 am certain that he did not
desire s to trn into a!/ect creatres in order that the sadisticall"-
minded might en/o" the sight of or mental miser" and s#irital
#overt"$ 0 am confident that it %as not his intention that %e loo( #on
the ,ardian as the incarnation of an infalli!le ,odC and 0 natrall"
%old e=#ect that the ,radian himself %old !e the ver" last #erson
to im#ose on his follo%ers sch inhman servitde$ 0t %old seem
clear that he is mch more in need of %ide-a%a(e, inde#endent and
resorcefl coo#erators than of timoros serfs, de#rived of self-res#ect
and of the res#ect of their fello%s$
0t is m" considered o#inion, arrived at in all sincerit", that 5!dl 6aha
%ished the 6ahais to gather, most lo"all" and devotedl", arond
4hoghi <ffendi to serve the &ase of 6aha>>llah as he himself had
served itC and althogh )here is a++aren) (on)radi()ion be)ween
)his se()ion o' )he ,ill and his li'elon! )ea(hin!s, %e %old, if %e
cold !t master the #ro#hetic nomenclatre and #hraseolog", reali?e
that the" are the t%o as#ects of the same Destions, %orded
differentl", !t to !e nderstood in the one s#irit )56*$
3o"alt" to the ,ro# or 3o"alt" to ,od$ 6esides, a ver" im#ortant #oint
is this oneE The a##ointment of 4hoghi <ffendi to the gardianshi#
atomaticall" cancelled the #rovision for sccession as s#ecified !"
6aha>>llah in his +ill$ The sitation %as e=traordinar"C therefore,
e=traordinar" and neDivocal terms mst have seemed necessar" in
order that, after the ;aster>s de#artre, the !elievers shold not !e
left in a state of ncertaint" %hich might lead to their !rea(ing into
t%o cam#s$
0 am fll" conscios of the fact that %hat 0 have here %ritten is #re
and nadlterated !las#hem" in the e"es of the National 4#irital
5ssem!l" of the 6ahais of the 7nited 4tates and &anada, %hich has
a!rogated all the niversal teachings of the &ase and #laced in their
stead !lind and nDestioned o!edience to 4hoghi <ffendi and,
throgh his athorit", to themselves$ This attitde of s!servience and
servilit" among the !elievers has !een stdiosl" cltivated !" ;r$
Horace Holle" %ho, in an article $ $ $ %ritesE FThe individal conscience
mst !e s!ordinated to the decisions of a dl" elected 4#irital
5ssem!l"F$ No%, it ha##ens that 5!dl 6aha thoght other%ise, as
can !e seen in F5 Traveller>s NarrativeF, %ritten as far !ac( as 18A9$
5fter referring to a nm!er of historical cases in %hich organi?ed
gro#s, official and non-official, have tried in the #ast to interfere %ith
Fthe conscience of manF, he %ritesE
>These are effectal and sfficient #roofs that the conscience of man is
sacred and to !e res#ectedC and that li!ert" thereof #rodces %idening
of ideas, amendment of morals, im#rovement of condct, disclosre of
the secrets of creation, and manifestation of the hidden verities of the
contingent %orld$ ;oreover, if interrogation of conscience, %hich is one
of the #rivate #ossessions of the heart and the sol, ta(e #lace in this
%orld, %hat frther recom#ense remains for man in the cort of divine
/stice at the da" of general resrrection2 &onvictions and ideas are
%ithin the sco#e of the com#rehension of the Jing of (ings, not of
(ingsC and sol and conscience are !et%een the fingers of control of
the 3ord of hearts, not of GHisH servants$> --5 Traveler>s Narrative, :1$
+ith this divine e=#osition !efore them, %hich states that the Fsol
and conscience are !et%een the fingers of control of the 3ord of
hearts, not of His servantsF, ho% do the mem!ers of the National
4#irital 5ssem!l" in general and ;r$ Horace Holle" in #articlar dare
to Fs!ordinateF conscience to Fthe decisionsF of Fan"F 4#irital
5ssem!l", elected or other%ise2 do the" thin( that the #!lic is %illing
to overloo( the teachings of the ;aster2 5!dl 6aha>s %ords remain in
!lac( and %hite, and neither the 5dministration nor its follo%ers can
tear these #ages from the volmes of immortal literatre$
0 m"self hold to the individal conscience$ 0 !elieve that it is the Fstill,
small voiceF %hich has !een #laced in or hearts to gide s aright$ 0
consider that the crimes of the nations and religions are #er#etrated
!ecase of the fact that the #eo#le #lace lo"alt" to the Fgro#F a!ove
lo"alt" to ,odC and 0 (no% that 6aha>>llah came to a%a(en the
individal, and throgh him to save the %orld$ Therefore, 0 do not
#ro#ose to condone in/stice, %herever it a##earsC nor to a##ease, nor
to stand aside and let affairs ta(e their corse$ 0 am a 6ahai,
res#onsi!le to m" ;a(er and to 5!dl 6aha, and 0 do not "ield one /ot
nor one /ota of m" love and reverence for m" ;aster in std"ing ot
his +ill to the !est of m" a!ilit" and in dra%ing m" sincere
conclsions" )56-58*$
The !e%ilderment %hich 0 feel on this s!/ect %as at first e=#erienced
!" man" of the older 6ahais %hen the contents of the %ill !ecame
(no%n$ This tem#orar" mental distr!ance and confsion %as not on
accont of the a##ointment of 4hoghi <ffendi as ,ardian, !t
!ecase of )he 'a() )ha) Abdl /aha had never in s+ee(h or
wri)in! !iven )he sli!h)es) indi(a)ion )ha) )here wold be a
s((essor )o himsel'. 0n )he (on)rar-" a nmber o' addresses
delivered b- him on varios o((as)ions had made )he o++osi)e
im+ression. &onseDentl" , it too( several "ears !efore a section of
the 6ahais cold ad/st themselves to the ne% sitation )61*$
"0n earnestl" investigating these isses %ith mind and conscience,
even as 6ahais are commanded to investigate all things, 0 can arrive at
no #lasi!le ans%er, e=ce#t it !e that the #lan of 5!dl 6aha %as a
draft made on !road lines to !e carried ot %ith the elasticit" reDired
!" the times$ 0 e=#lain some of the (nott" #oints as follo%sE--
4hold the 6ahai &ase !e actall" o#erated along niversal lines, as
%as intended !" the 1onders, it is logical that it shold s#read to all
#arts and ins#ire the leaders in ever" de#artment of #ractical thoght
and action$ 5!dl 6aha said that a man %ho lives his life according to
the teachings of 6aha-B-3lah is alread" a 6ahaiC he did not sa" that a
man %ho %rites his name on the dotted line, #re#ared !" the 6ahai
organi?ation, is a 6ahai$ 5ccording to this conce#t, the #lans of 6aha-
B-3lah and 5!dl 6aha in regard to the election of the mem!ers of the
Hose of Istice !" Fniversal sffrageF, or !" Fniversal sffrage,
that is !" the !elieversF, merge into one$
5gainE according to 5!dl 6aha, the mem!ers of the Hose of Istice
Fare nder the nerring gidance of ,odF, and themselves are freed
from errorC %hile the ,ardian )to %hom he ascri!es a "et higher
station* is sim#l" Fnder the nerring gidance of ,odF--even as %e
all are, for the %ord nerring, a##lies in this instance to ,od, not to
the ,ardian$ Then, ho% can a mem!er of the Hose of Istice %ho is
Ffreed from errorF !e considered nfit and e=#elled !" the ,ardian,
concerning %hom no sch claim has !een made2
This cannot !e e=#lainedC therefore, 0 !elieve that 5!dl 6aha %as
giving an ideal #ictre of the ;em!ers, sho%ing %hat the" shold !eC
and, !" the same to(en, in e=alting the ,ardian, he %as de#icting the
t"#e of gardian that he so mch desired and ho#ed for$
;ean%hile, mch de#ends #on the FfirstF ,ardian of the &ase$
4hold he se his #osition to act as a servant of hmanit", even as the
;aster did, striving ever to maintain the democrac" in the 6ahai
movement that is its fndamental #rinci#le$$$" ):8-::*$

@or years' the h1net version of Sohrab!s Broken Silence suppresses four very important
pages from the original that are presented here below. :hese pages were obviously not
left out by oversight but reveal how the -aha!i administration operates and uses
individual 2scholars2 and publicly funded institutions to suppress' revise' and distort
understanding of its own history to suit its designs.

Mrs. .hanler emphasizes liberty and the universal and non1eclusive nature of
-aha!u!llah!s :eachings.

7escribes the declarations of twenty1eight people to the -ahai .ause.

Mrs. .hanler and Sohrab!s lawyers refute the claims of the "ational Spiritual Assembly
of the -aha!is of the %nited States. :he "ew #ork Supreme .ourt later also upheld Mrs.
.hanler and Sohrab!s right to use the name -ahai.

;on. Bewis Stuyvesant .hanler' as Bieutenant18overnor of "ew #ork State' in ()=5. ;1
"et' a ta supported <nternet system' for scholarly study' also funded by Michigan State
%niversity' a publicly1funded institution' is being used by fundamentalist -aha!is to
suppress the fact that a former Bieutenant18overnor was the husband of Mrs. .hanler'
and supported her and Sohrab' morally and financially' in their decades1long battle to
preserve their human right to freedom of speech and conscience.
See ;1"et -ahai!s 2slanderous vilification2 at
http$,,www.h1net.org,?bahai,diglib,books,&1:,S,sohrab,-roken.htm

Shunning F Menu
http$,,www.fglaysher.com,bahaicensorship,Shunning.htm
.ompare Sohrab to -aha!i faith and <ts :eachings by William McElwee Miller

.3M&ARE$
r. !. "!harles# Ainsworth Mitchell $ !ertified !opy from the %ibrary of !ongress
Report on the Writing Shown on the Photographs of the Alleged Will of Abdul-Baha.
1930.
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/!AMitchell&'eport.htm
'uth (hite) Excerpts) *ibliography
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/'uth+,-(hite.htm
'uth (hite !ollection) %ibrary of !ongress) ./0-
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/'(hite%ib!.htm
Also see 1S istrict !ourt of 2orthern 3llinois rules against 4aifan *aha5is $ April
,0) ,--6
Amici curiae) 'eform *ahai 7aith
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/1Sistrict!ourt-8.htm